I'll keep this short and sweet. Ok, so probably won't be short but it should be sweet. Well, maybe the Baker's Chocolate of profile text type of sweet. Bah, whatever, I'll just wing it and drag you along for the ride...

I think that the other stuff in the profile does a good job of collecting my business into a series of text boxes better than I can do while rambling on here. However, this is a pretty good place to stick some stuff about you and what I'm looking for. Yeah, here's my hand at a bit of relationship divining.

A great time with a girlfriend, for me, is that night where the week just sort of drained life out of us and we meet up at one or the other's place for some pizza or gyros(even better if it's from a local dive that only locals really like). We vent a bit about work, commiserate about how it's like the week would never end, and then I completely destroy you at Scrabble or some other game. Oh, not destroyed? Well, perhaps there are some allegations of cheating but I swear that the dictionary on my iPhone NEVER got used. It just happened to be the last app open. No, I wouldn't use Wikipedia to gain an unfair advantage at a trivia game. Ok, my smile gives me away. I will concede that next time we'll play that game you always win at... I mean, all that recent, secret practice should have paid off by now.

After the subsequent dethroning of my short-lived win, we catch up on some netflix, lounge on the couch and talk about the plans for the weekend. Heading to DC or to a friends for some grilling action (yes, the stuff we're bringing is totally done and in the fridge) or there's that band playing at Fellini's that we wanted to see or whatever else sounds good to spend a day together without a plan.

That's a thought. I mean, I could have completely gotten the game wrong...

I am laughing, random, and hands-on

What I’m doing with my life

I work as a software engineer (read: nerd but in a well-rounded, good way, I swear). I went to school in Indiana and then moved to Virginia when I graduated. Every once in a while I look around and wonder what it would be like to move to X and do Y.

Outside of work I like to help with Habitat for Humanity, tutor a high school kid or two, and like doing other volunteery things when possible. I like having fun though as well in a self-indulgent sort of way sometimes. I can't always be helping the less fortunate, right?

The outdoors has always been a pretty good place for me though and my camping gear is always ready for a trip. Ok, so it may need a bit of prep, but it's very close to ready...

I’m really good at

Making people laugh. I love telling stories (most of which are true - or at least based loosely on it). Life shouldn't be wasted by always looking at it through the serious glasses. Sometimes you need to try out the pair with a fake mustache.

The first things people usually notice about me

Other than the obvious physical stuff (height - tall, hair - brown, eyes - blue) I don't really know. I'm usually not one to be very outgoing at first but I warm up quickly and am fine with small talk or finding something we have in common and getting a good conversation going.

Favorite books, movies, shows, music, and food

Books - SciFi is a favorite but I also like some non-fiction, and various other things. Favorite books are probably Ender's Game and the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series.

Movies - Best way to put it is varied... I'm not a huge fan of action movies though. I loved Requiem for a Dream, Gattaca, Dan in Real Life, and a few others I can't think of at the moment (perhaps I didn't love them enough?)

Food - Often, I prefer to cook than to go out and I'll try just about anything once. I have a special place in my heart (stomache?) for Mexican, Chinese, and Italian cuisine. My favorites most of the time are pizza and gyros. I can eat either of those any day of the week (or multiple days if able).

The six things I could never do without

family & friends (moving away from my best ones was a hard thing to do)independencehealthintelligencehumortechnology (I try but it has tendrils so deep in me)

I spend a lot of time thinking about

All these projects I want to do but never seem to have the time to do (or I get distracted by another thing and just have too many pots on the stove - did I mention the love of cooking?)

Recently it's been where I want to go next for my career. Not really so much physically but what I can do to move up in the business structure and all that good extra-pay stuff. Looks like my masters is soon to start and I'm actually looking forward to some school stuff to start. It's a brave new world, right? Ha.

On a typical Friday night I am

Out with friends, in with friends or alone watching a movie or playing a game. Sometimes I even sleep, but that's usually reserved for late enough that it's Saturday by then...

The most private thing I’m willing to admit

I had my eyes horrifically shot with a laser at the beginning of 2009 and was left with no need for my glasses any longer. It was the best use of non-taxable income yet! Yeah, the pictures on here are a little dated; and yes, this isn't very private but well, take what you get... ;)

You should message me if

You smiled at anything here. Or want to laugh more. Or want to be a test subject for a new recipe. Shoot, even if you just want a reply to a message. That's a pretty good reason there as well.